California bishops praise death penalty moratorium

Posted March 13, 2019 6:13 pm by Editor

Los Angeles, Calif., Mar 13, 2019 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- The imposition of a state moratorium on the use of the death penalty by Gov. Gavin Newsom was hailed as a positive step by California’s bishops Wednesday. But the state’s Catholic leaders cautioned the state’s criminal justice system was still in need of reform.

Newsom announced March 12 that he would issue an executive order to remove the state’s lethal injection protocol and close the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison. The moratorium will not result in anyone being released from prison on pardoned.